So I've been thinking a lot about HRT recently and if this would be an option for me. I somehow wanna try it, but I'm also not sure yet if I could make a lifetime decision at all. So just hypothetically, how would that work out if I start taking hormones and then maybe later in life decide that it's not what I want? (Or even the extreme case that I want to go back into my birth gender?)

Not sure if I'm really identifying as a woman, but I do want to have a more feminine body and the possible outcome of HRT looks very promising to me. I'm not too worried about the side effects either, I just want to have a doctors checkup for possible long term health risks. Well and I still have a lot of questions on my mind:

starting of HRT is usually a point of no return, or is it not? Did anyone here stop HRt after any amount of time and why? What's it like?

Effects from Hrt are reversible for the first few months to an extent. softer skin, fat distribution and sweat glands will go back. Breast growth will remain and any muscle loss will have to be exercised

Quote from: Tamara Thor on November 10, 2013, 06:54:17 PM
So I've been thinking a lot about HRT recently and if this would be an option for me. I somehow wanna try it, but I'm also not sure yet if I could make a lifetime decision at all. So just hypothetically, how would that work out if I start taking hormones and then maybe later in life decide that it's not what I want? (Or even the extreme case that I want to go back into my birth gender?)

Not sure if I'm really identifying as a woman, but I do want to have a more feminine body and the possible outcome of HRT looks very promising to me. I'm not too worried about the side effects either, I just want to have a doctors checkup for possible long term health risks. Well and I still have a lot of questions on my mind:

starting of HRT is usually a point of no return, or is it not? Did anyone here stop HRt after any amount of time and why? What's it like?

I've never stopped hrt, but I wanted to warn you.  I know people that have and had to deal with permanent changes.  Sometimes things revert back, but not everything does or will.  Therefore, I would urge you to clear up any major doubts about hrt before starting.  It deserves a lot of consideration before being started.  That's why most of us will recommend therapy prior to starting.  Good luck with whatever you decide!

It may be easier to look the other way. If the changes are irreversible could you live with them?

Please see a therapist.

Some parts are reversible other parts aren't...
Breasts are perminant.
After some time your Fertility may be permanently effected
If your young (Teens) estrogen may influence your bone development this is permanent.

Most other bits should be reversible over time.

hi tamara,
my name s kelly and i am new to the forum. i have been reading a lot of posts here and i love it. all the girls provide excellent tips on how best to navigate the pink fog.
i decided to post here because i feel exactly the same way you do and i have the same wants and desires. i have been underdressing on and off for a long time (panties, nose and now bras) and i would like to start hrt to feminize my body and bring it more in line with how i feel about myself. like you, not sure however i want to be a woman but i need to explore that possibility. i read a lot and reread all posted about this and there seems to be a consensus that hrt cannot or should not be done half-way. simply way too much burden both psychologically and physically. but... i am nonetheless willing to try it like you.
i want my breasts to grow and my body to assume a more feminine appearance. how big would i want my breasts? i think i'd be happy with a good b cup for a start. and yes learningtolive and cindy are right, if we stopped how could we live with breasts as a male for example? for me, a non-issue. i have gyno to some extent and already feel i have something there. if what i now have were bigger and rounder it would still be ok. i love to wear a bra in drab (a or b cup depending on band size) and do so often, i like push-ups as i wish to project some. it is only if i wanted c cups where that would become a problem. but who knows, maybe once i get going i will find the road down that path delicious and i might not want to stop...and that is the main issue we have to grapple with. kind of scary in fact. would we then ready for life-changing consequences? re the other effects of hrt, from what i read, all the feminization that could take place would be absolutely awesome even if they stayed from hip fat redistribution (i.e., a rounder behind), a softening of the face and a more controlled libido.
tamara we seem to be a minority in wanting to do this and i sometimes feel that other girls can be very judgmental about this. so take their answers with that in mind. you only have one life to live and you should pursue your dreams of happiness even if it means being genderfluid.

During my first transition attempt I stopped taking hormones after 26 months. I actually had very little breast development during that time so that was probably the only thing that allowed me to ease back into male mode as if nothing had even happened. Although I was seeing an endo at the time I very stupidly stopped hormones cold turkey without supervision. That was very dangerous with some peculiar side-effects like lactation. Fortunately a lot of the feminising effects stayed with me and left me in a good position for my second attempt at transition. Anyway, bottom line, hormones aren't to be taken lightly... I'd suggest you be very sure about what you want to do first, don't dabble and don't self-medicate.

I was on HRT from age 17 until my mid 40s (SRS at 24). My doctor took me off of HRT for fear of the side effects and I was off for 15 years. I was sadly disappointed by how much my body masculinized in that time, even without gonads. Breasts never went away but I looked SO MUCH OLDER!  A new endo put me back on HRT in my late 50s and I soon looked younger again but the masculinizing effects of being off of HRT remained. I also developed osteoporosis in the time I was off of hormones. I never was fertile so that was a moot point.